Venezuela cuts public sector hours to save power

Venezuela will reduce public sector working hours to ease pressure on its power grid, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez said Wednesday.

Rodriguez said the measure would mean public sector employees working every other day and half days, except for essential services such as healthcare. Authorities are seeking to ration electricity as domestic consumption reaches its highest level in almost a decade.

Rodriguez said demand peaked Tuesday at 15,726 megawatts this year, while only about 12,000 megawatts was available. Blackouts outside Caracas have become increasingly regular and have triggered protests around the country in recent weeks.

Rodriguez announced the workday measure while signing an agreement with Argentine company IMPSA to complete a hydroelectric power plant in the southern state of Bolivar. Her administration also struck a deal in June with General Electric to boost supplies.